So Long Gators...and Bob Huggins?

The 2006-07 college basketball season has been over for just a little longer than 72 hours but that hasn't meant a lack of news in the NCAA. Here's a run down of all that has taken place since Florida cut down the net in Atlanta on Monday night.

Monday

- After being named NABC Coach of the Year, Todd Lickliter resigns from his position as head coach of Butler and takes the open position as Iowa's new coach. For Lickliter it was the best of his six season with the Bulldogs, leading them to a 29-7 record and a birth in the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual champ Florida. Lickliter will be replacing Steve Alford who left to coach New Mexico on March 23rd.

Tuesday

- Dana Altman pulled a 180 on Arkasas, quitting from the position as head coach, just one day after a press conference announced him to the position. Altman who has spent the last 13 season with the Creighton Blue Jays, will return to the team next season.
"This is something I'm doing for my family," Altman said in an Associated Press report Tuesday. "I wish I would have come to that decision earlier."

- Former West Virginia head coach John Beilein confirmed that he would be leaving Morgantown for Ann Arbor, and take the head coaching position at Michigan an AP report stated. Beilein went 104-60 in his time with the Moutaineers, including a 27-9 record this past year, the second most wins in school history. Beilein face high expectations from the Wolverine faithful who have seen their team in the NIT three out of the last four years.

- Colorado St junior forward Jason Smith announced he would be declaring for the NBA Draft. The 7-footer averaged 16.8 points and 10.1 rebounds during the past season while earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference recognition for the second straight year. Smith will not be signing with an agent to afford him the chance to return for his senior season if he isn't happy with where he is being projected in the draft.

- According to a report in the Daily Egyptian, third year Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery agreed to a 7-year contract extension that will pay $750,000 a year. Lowery helped guide the Salukis to a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a Sweet 16 birth this past season.

Wednesday

- Butler announced a press conference for Thursday afternoon where they would announce Brad Stevens as the new head coach of the basketball program. Stevens served as an assistant under former head coach Todd Lickliter for six seasons before taking the position.
"He's a familiar face to the program, having coached under Todd Lickliter and Thad Matta, and he embraces the Butler Way," said Director of Butler Athletics Barry Collier in an AP report interview.

- Air Force head coach Jeff Bzdelik resigned and took the head coaching position at the University of Colorado. In his two season with the Falcons Bzdelik led the team to a 50-16 record, one of just 17 D1 teams to win 50 games in the last two years.

- An AP story reported that Purdue players Chris Lutz and Johnathan Uchendu would be transferring to schools closer to home. Lutz, a guard, led the Big-10 in 3-point shooting at 47 percent, but only started in 10 games after starting in 24 as a freshman. Uchendu, a 6-11 freshman, had little impact on the team, averaging just 1.8 points per game.

Thursday

- Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green all announced in a televised press conference that they would be forgoing their senior seasons at Florida and would enter the NBA Draft. The four juniors led the Gators to back-to-back national championships.

- Florida head coach Bill Donovan put to rest the rumours that he too would be departing Gainesville by stating that he would not be taking the head coaching position at Kentucky.

- In an unexpected turn of events, Kansas St coach Bob Huggins resigned after just one season with the team and took the head position at his alma mata, West Virginia. Huggins had originally turned down an offer to coach the team back in 2002.
School president Jon Wefald was not happy with the decision, and make his feelings known. "We feel like we are heavyweight contenders here at K-State. It is kind of like we are in the ring and we are doing very well. Then we get hit with a right cross and knocked out," Wefald said in an AP report.
What will be interesting now is to see if Bill Walker follows Huggins to West Virginia. In addition blue chip prospect Michael Beasley may go to West Virginia as well. Beasley is one of the top prospects in the class of 2007 and has stated that he wasn't crazy about going to Kansas St and that Huggins was the main reason behind his decision.

- University of Washington freshman center Spencer Hawes announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft. The 7-footer was a first-team All-Pac 10 Freshman selection and led the team in scoring, establing school freshman records for scoring and blocked shots. Hawes does not intend to sign with an agent yet to leave the option to return to school open for himself.

- Arizona sophomore Marcus Williams announced he would be signing with an agent and leaving school to enter the NBA Draft. The All-Pac 10 selection led Arizona in scoring at 16.6 points per game and is hoping to be a first round selection.
"It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA," Williams said in an AP report, "and I feel like I'm in a good position to take that next step."

- The BG News reported that Bowling Green has named Louis Orr the new head basketball coach. Orr most recently had a five year stint at head coach of Seton Hall where he led to Pirates to a record of 80-69 and two NCAA Tournament appearences. In a written statement released by the Bowling Green Athletic Department, Orr stated that he and his family are "very excited about this new chapter in our life."